Amien said that if the next few days produces events that endanger the nation this would be sufficient cause for holding a plenary meeting. “This meeting would be held to bring forward the date of the MPR special session,” Amien said.
Amien's says such "dangerous events" will only be revealed during the meeting as MPR leaders themselves are not authorized to make such judments independently. “Moreover, it’s very difficult to set an objective frame to make such judgments,” he said. Amien added that if things remain calm over the next few days, the MPR will not speed up the special session. “What use would there be? It would only become another controversy,” he stated.
Meanwhile, eight MPR leaders discussed a mandate from the MPR work committee today (10/07). During a closed meeting MPR leaders agreed that monitoring the volatile political situation in Indonesia was a top priority. “If the situation worsens and endangers national security or if President Abdurrahman Wahid takes unconstitutional steps, an MPR plenary meeting will be held to speed up the special session,” MPR Speaker Amien Rais explained today (10/07).
Amien said that the MPR working committee has already prepared the technicalities and guidelines for the approaching special session. He said he did not expect any negative or destructive changes prior to August 1. “I hope the situation remains calm so that we don’t have to bring forward the special session,” Amien said. Among those present at the meeting were MPR deputy speakers such as Ginandjar Kartasasmita of the Golkar party faction, Sutjipto of the Indonesian Democratic Party for Struggle , Matori Abdul Djalil of the National Awakening Party, Hari Sabarno of the Indonesian Military/ National Police faction and H.A Nazri Adlani of the United Development Party.
